Digital Footprint and Reputations
Based on the content provided and my own personal experience, I feel like I need to be mindful of what I post online. I recognize that what is publicly available online reflects an image of me to educational institutions, potential employers, etc. I was pleasantly surprised with looking into my digital footprint. I did not see much when I checked. I was concerned that my address is on certain "background checker" sites. However, outside of that there was nothing of concern. There was mention on how I made the Dean's list in college and that I am on my local rugby team. I actually even found that one of my cousins started a family tree and I learned the name of my great-great grandparents! So overall, I was pleasantly surprised.
Currently, I make sure that my social media accounts are as private as possible. Majority of the information on my Facebook is for "Friends Only". Similar to Facebook, my Instagram is private. I also make sure to be cautious about what I post online or what others post of me online.
To my knowledge, within my agency and throughout the field, I feel that I am held to the same digital reputation as others.
I do think people should know about the impact of their digital footprint. I think parents and educators should certainly inform teenagers as they start transitioning to higher education and professions. However, I feel that a fully working adult should be responsible enough to know for themselves what they should and should not post online.
I do know of an instance of how someone's digital reputation negatively impacted their work. When I was in high school, I worked at a summer camp. One of the other teenagers told me that one of our coworkers was fired because she had posted a video of her doing sexual activities with her boyfriend online, and our camp found out about it. She was immediately terminated. I'm not sure where this video was posted or who told the camp about it, but I was shocked at the time that someone my age (I must've been 16 or 17) would post a video of themselves online like that when we are clearly underage.
Overall, it is so important to be mindful about what is shared online.
Hi Rosali,
ReplyDeleteI could not agree more, everything we post needs to be carefully screened, whether it's intended for a specific audience or could be mistakenly shared publicly. I also keep all of my social media accounts private because I’m not comfortable with strangers having access to my photos or personal information. That said, I sometimes wonder if this makes me contradictory, why post at all if I am concerned about who might see it? For me, part of posting is about staying connected with people I don’t get to see often. It’s my way of maintaining those relationships.
Your story about a coworker being terminated was very disheartening. At such a young age (assuming your coworker was around the same age), we often are not as vigilant as we become in our 20s, 30s, or later about the consequences of what we post and the impact it can have. At 16, I thought I knew everything, and back then, MySpace was the popular social media platform. I would post anything and everything publicly, not realizing that anyone on the internet could access my information. It took several conversations with my mother to understand that not everything needs to be shared and that the internet can be dangerous. Now, with more experience and maturity, I’m much more cautious about what I post.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences, it is a powerful reminder of how important it is to be mindful of our digital footprint.
Thank you,
Mainawatie
Hi Rosalie,
ReplyDeleteI am so grateful that the internet was not a thing when I was young. Kids today will forever be scrutinized, and they will never be able to get out from under mistakes made online. That to me is quite sad. I was no angel when I was young, but there is no one beyond my parents to bring it up or hold it over my head. Kids today are tracked, pictured and their whole existence is now online. To me that is kind of terrifying. How far back will an employer look? A prospective college? Will mistakes made by teens hinder future prospects? Look at the Coldplay Kiss Cam currently unfolding- it cost a CEO his job, his wife massive heartache and the sketchy side piece some embarrassment. What they did was not right. Not by a long shot. But should it be out there for the whole world to see? Or affect current or future employment? It raises a lot of questions. Thank God what happened at keggers in the woods, stayed in the woods. You can't prove a thing. The more I see of today's world the more I miss the 80's.